If they become a reality, the digital passports could work like mobile boarding passes, according to The Telegraph's report.

"Technology is at the forefront of De La Rue’s business, and as you would expect we are always looking at new innovations and technology solutions for our customers around the world," a spokesperson for De La Rue told Business Insider over email.

"Paperless passports are one of many initiatives that we are currently looking at, but at the moment it is a concept that is at the very early stages of development."

It's unclear how individuals' personal details, which are currently stored on a passport's electronic chip, would be transferred to mobile phones and kept secure. What might happen if a phone were to break, get lost or stolen is also unclear at this stage.